Transmission



Au 7, 1945. c. J. CONKLE TRANSMISSION Filed May 5, 1945 fn z/enf ort-Card J Con/@162 I JyZMZJ7 the transmission shaft.

Patented Aug. 7, 1945 TRANSMISSION Carl J. Conkle, Muncie, Ind.,assignor to Borg- Chicago, Ill.,'a corpora- Warner Corporation,

. tion of Illinois Application May 5, 1943, Serial No. 485.729 8 Claims.(cl. 74 '290) and interengage in an opening or window in an-- otherelement for shifting the transmission into high speed ratio and whichincludes a one-way brake on an element for taking the reaction ofgearing in the transmission for providing a low speed ratio and frictionbraking means for that element of the gearing for taking coast load,that is, the load due to the action of a propeller on the driven shaftacting as" a flywheel and driv-' ing the driving shaft at low gearratio.

It is an object of my invention to provide a' transmission suitable foruse in airplanes which is of such construction that in order to shiftthe transmission from one speed ratio to another, only a singleoperator, preferably a brake, need be actuated, as distinguishedfrom thetwo operators, the dog and the friction brake, provided for shifting theMoflitt transmission, and with the transmission being such that there isa connection between the driving and driven shafts such that a propelleron the driven shaft may act as a flywheel for an engine connected withthe driving shaft, no matter at which speed ratio may be set to drivethe driven In its preferred form, my improved transmisshaft andunderdrive unit for completing a low speed ratio power train betweerrthe shafts and through the underdrive unit, an overdrive unitoperatively connectible between the input shaft and the underdrive unitfor driving the latter unit and thereby providing a high speed ratiopower train between the shafts, and alone-way clutch between the shaftswhereby the output shaft may drive the input shaft for maintaining i anengine connected with the input shaft in operation when the propellerconnected with the output shaft is rotating.

My invention consists of the. novel constructions, arrangements anddevices to be hereinafterdescribed and claimed for carrying out theabovestated objects and such other objects as will appear from thefollowing detailed description of 1 openings in the member Fig. 1 is alongitudinal sectional view of a transmission embodying the principlesof my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

The illustrated transmission comprises an input or driving shaft I 0,which is Journaled in a stationary part II constituting a portion oftthehousing for the transmission, and an output or driven shaft 12, which isJournaled by means of a ball bearing It with respect to a transmissionhousing Portion I4 and a sun gear member 15. The sun gear member I 5 andthe housing portion M are bolted together and to a transmission housingportion l8 by means of a plurality of bolts ll (one being shown in thedrawing) as shown. An intermediate shaft- I 8 is provided between theshafts l0 and I2, and the shaft I8 is splined tothe shaft l0 and ispiloted on the shaft l2 as shown. The shaft [0 i adapted to be connectedto and to be driven by an airplane engine (not shown), and the shaft I2is adapted to carry and to drive an airplane propeller ,(not shown). J

A flange-like portion I9 is provided on the shaft l8, and the portion l9carries a plurality of stub shafts 20 (one being shown in the drawing)as shown. A planet gear 2| is rotatably disposed on each of the stubshafts 20, and the planet gears are in mesh with a ring gear 22 and asun gear 23,

'I'hering gear 22 has a member 24 splined there- 23- and the brake 21together form a planetary overdrive unit as will be hereinafterdescribed.

The brake 21 comprises discs 28-.and diSCsZS between the discs 28, withthe discs 29 being splined to the housing portion l6 and the discs 28being splined to the sun gear 23'. A pressure member .30 is provided forforcing the discs 28 and 29 together, and bolts 3| (one being shown inthe drawing) are provided passing through 30 and functioning to hold themember 30 against rotation. A spring 32 is provided on 'each of thebolts 3| between a washer '33 suitably held against outward movetaken online 2-2 v ment on the bolt and the pressure member 30, and the springsfunction to force the member 30 to the left as seen in Fig. 1 forpressing the discs 23 and 26 together and thereby engaging the brake 21.A member 34,- which is rotatable with respect to the housing portion l6but is held against movement outwardly away from the housing portion byany suitable means (not shown), is provided, and the member 34 is formedwith a thread 35 thereon. The pressure member 30 is provided with athread 36 in threaded engagement with the thread 35, and the arrangementis such that the pressure member 30 may be moved to the right as seen inFig. 1 to disengage the brake 21 by rotating the member 34 in onedirection and the member 30 may be moved to the left as seen in thefigure by rotation of the member 34 in the opposite direction wherebythe springs 32 will again function to maintain the brake 21 engaged. Asis apparent, when the brake 21 is disengaged, there is'no drive from theshaft l6 through the planet gears 2| to the ring gear 22; however, whenthe brake 21 is engaged, the sun gear 23.is thereby held stationary andthe "planet gears 2| function to drive the ring gear 22 at a speedhigher than that of the shaft l6.

The one-way clutch 25 comprises rollers 31, a cylindrical surface 38formed on the member 24 and cammed surfaces 39 formed on the member 26.The clutch 25, as is apparent, functions, when the brake 21 isdisengaged and 'the ring gear 22 is not being driven at an overdrivespeed with respect to the shaft l6, to drive the ring gear 22 at thesame speed as the shaft l8 with the rollers 31 wedging between theopposite surfaces 38 and 36. When the ring gear 22 is driven at anoverdrive speed by the planet gears 2|, the clutch 25 overruns with therollers 31 being out of wedging relation with the surfaces 38 and 39. Aplurality of planet gears 40 (one being shown in the drawing) areprovided in mesh with the ring gear 22 and the sun gear member l5. Eachof the planet gears 40 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 4| which iscarried by a member 42 splined to the driven shaft l2. The ring gear 22,which, as has been hereinbefore described, is adapted to be driveneither at the speed of the shaft l6 by means of the one-way clutch 25 orat an overdrive speed with respect to the shaft l6 by means of theplanet gears 2|; the sun gear member l5, which is stationary withrespect to the transmission housing portions l4 and I6; and the planetgears 40 constitute an underdrive, as is apparent, for driving thedriven shaft l2 at a speed less than that of the ring gear 22. It willbe noted that the ring gear 22 functions both as a ring gear withrespect to the plane gears 2| and with respect to the planet gears 40and that the ring gear functions to connect the underdrive unit withboth the one-way clutch 25 and also the overdrive unit comprising thegears 2|, 22 and 23.

ratios for driving the driven shaft l2 when the driving shaft I0 isrotated. When the brake 21 is disengaged, the shaft |2 is driven at lowspeed ratio, and the drive is from the shaft through the shaft l6, theflange portion IS, the member 26, the one-way clutch 25, the member 24,the ring gear 22, the underdrive comprising the gears 22, 40 and I5, andthe member 42 to the shaft l2. When the brake 21 is engaged, the drivenshaft I2 is rotated at high speed ratio, and the drive is then from theshaft l0 through the shaft l8, the flange portion IS, the overdrive unitcomprising the gears 23, 2|, and 22, the underdrive unit comprising thegears 22, 40 and I5 and the member 42 to the shaft l2. When the shaft I2is thus driven in high speed ratio, the one-way clutch 25 overruns as isapparent. It will be noted that at both low and high speed ratios, theshaft |2 rotates at less speed than shaft ID. This is true at low speedratio since the drive is through the underdrive unit and not theoverdrive unit. It is true at high speed ratio since the planet gears 2|are larger than the planet gears 40 and the same ring gear 22 is usedfor both the underdrive and overdrive units whereby the overdrive unitcauses an increase in speed ratio which is A one-way clutch 43 isprovided between the member 26 and the output shaft l2. The onewayclutch comprises a member 44 splined to the driven shaft l2, acylindrical surface 45 provided on the member 26, cammed surfaces 46formed on the member 44, and a plurality of' rollers 41 between thesurfaces 45 and 46. One-way clutch 43 functions, as is apparent, todrive the member 26 in the same direction of rotation asthe shafts l0and I2 rotate when-the inember 44 is driven in such direction, with therollers wedging between the surfaces 46 and 45.

The illustrated transmission provides two speed less than the decreasein speed ratio caused by the underdrive unit.

The one-way clutch 43 functions to prevent a rotation of the shaft l2and thereby of a propeller fixed on the shaft in the forward directionwithout a connection with the shaft l0, whereby the shaft l2 and thepropeller function as a flywheel for the shaft l0 and an engineconnected with the shaft Hi to prevent a stalling of the engine, as whenthe engine is idling, for example, and would stall ordinarily without aflywheel. When the brake 21 is engaged, the connection between theshafts I0 and I2 is positive, that is to say, power may be transmittedthrough the transmission from either one of the shafts to the otherwithout any overrunning of either of the shafts; however, when the brake21 is disengaged, the driven shaft |2 is rotated by a power trainincluding the one-way clutch 25, and it is apparent that the shaft l0could not be rotated from the shaft l2 in the forward direction if noauxiliary means were provided for giving such a result, as the clutch 25would simply overrun. When the transmission is set for driving the shaft|2 in low speed ratio, with the brake 21 being disengaged, if the shaftl2 tends to rotate at a faster'speed than it is driven through theunderdrive unit, the clutch 43 as such auxiliary means then engages, andthe shaft l2 and a propeller thereon tend to rotate the shaft I0 withthe drive being from the shaft l2 through the member 44, the clutch 43,the member 26 and the shaft l8 to the shaft ill. The one-way clutch 43,when the shaft I2 is being driven at either low or high speed ratio fromshaft I0 is disengaged. This is true since at either speed ratio, as hasbeen hereinbefore explained, the shaft |2 rotates-at less speed thanshaft l0.

My improved transmission is.advantageously of simple construction, andit may be easily controlled. In order to change from one speed ratio toanother, only the single operative stroke of either disengaging orengaging the brake 21 is necessary. The transmission furthermoreprovides two-way connections between the driving and driven shafts foreither speed ratio, and a propeller on the output shaft may thusfunction as a flywheel at either speed ratio.

I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit my invention tothe details of construction shown and described except only insofar ascertain of the appended claims are specifically so limited, as it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made withoutde-' parting from the principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a transmission, the combination of an input shaft, an outputshaft, change speed mechanism connected operatively between said shaftsand providing power trains for driving said output shaft at a low anda-high ratio with respect to the input shaft, said mechanism including aone-Way clutch for completing the power train providing said low ratioand a brake for completing the power train providing said high ratio,and a one-way clutch directly between said'shafts whereby said outputshaft may drive said input shaft when the transmission is conditionedfor either high or low ratio,

2. In a transmission, the combination of an input shaft, an outputshaft, an underdrive unit connected operatively between said shafts andproviding a power train for driving said output shaft, a oneway clutchfor completing the power train through said underdrive unit, anoverdrive unit operatively connectible between said input shaft and saidunderdrive unit, and a one-way clutch directly between said shaftswhereby said output shaft may drive said input shaft at a one to oneratio.

3. In a transmission, the combination of .an input shaft, an outputshaft, an underdrive unit operatively connected between said shafts forproviding a low speed ratio and including a stationary sun gear, a ringgear, means for driving said ring gear from said input shaft, a planetgear in mesh with the sun and ring gears and a planet gear carrierconnected with said output shaft, and an overdrive unit including asecond planet gear connectible operatively between said input shaft andsaid ring gear for driving the ring gear at an overspeed and drivingthrough said underdrive unit with its said sun gear being stationary forproviding a high speed ratio.

4. In a transmission, the combination of an input shaft, an outputshaft, an underdrive unit connected operatively between said shafts andincluding a stationary sun gear, a ring gear, means for driving saidring gear from said input shaft, said means including an overrunningclutch, a planet gear in mesh with the sun and ring gears and a planetgear carrier connected with said output shaft, and an overdrive unitincluding a ring gear connected with the ring gear of said underdriveunit, a second sun gear, a selectively operable brake for saidlast-named sun gear, a planet gear in mesh with the sun and ring gearsof the overdrive unit and a planet gear carrier for the planet gear ofthe overdrive unit and connected with said input shaft, said overdriveunit being effectively connectible between said input shaft and saidunderdrive unit to drive through th latter unit with the sun gear of thelatter unit being stationary for providing a high speed ratio.

5. In a transmission, the combination of an input shaft, an outputshaft, an underdrive unit connected operatively between said shafts forproviding a low speed ratio and including a stationary sun gear, a ringgear, a one-way clutch between the input shaft and ring. gear fordriving the ring gear, a planet gear in mesh with the sun and ring gearsand a planet gear carrier connected with said output shaft, a one-wayclutch between said shafts whereby said output shaft may drive saidinput shaft, and an overdrive unit connectible operatively between saidinput shaft and said ring gear for providing a high speed ratio.

6. In a transmission, the combination of an input shaft, an outputshaft, an underdrive unit connected operatively between said shafts toprovide a low speed ratio and including a stationary sun gear, a ringgear, a one-way clutch between the input shaft and ring gear for drivingthe ring gear, a planet gear in mesh with th sun and ring gears and aplanet gear carrier connected with said output shaft, a one-way clutchbetween said shafts whereby said output shaft may drive said inputshaft, and an overdrive unit for driving said ring gear at a fasterspeed than it is driven through said first-named one-Way clutch andproviding a high speed ratio between said shafts, and a brake for makingsaid overdrive unit effective.

7. In a transmission, the combination of an input shaft, an outputshaft, an underdrive unit connected operatively between said shafts andincluding a stationary sun gear, a ring gear, a one-way clutch betweenthe input shaft and ring gear for driving the ring gear, a planet gearin mesh with the sun and ring gears and a planet gear carrier connectedwith said output shaft, a one-way clutch between said shafts wherebysaid output shaft may drive said input shaft, and an overdrive unitconnectible operatively between said input shaft and said ring gear andincluding a ring gear connected with said first-named ring gear, a sungear, a planet gear in mesh with the sun'and ring gears of the overdriveunit, and a carrier for said last-named planet gear and connected withsaid input shaft, and a brake for the sun gear of the overdrive unit formaking the overdrive unit effective.

8. In a transmission, the combination of an input shaft, an outputshaft, a change speed unit connected operatively between said shafts andproviding power trains for driving said outputshaft at two differentspeeds both of which are less than the speed of the input shaft, aone-way clutch for completing the one of said power trains for drivingsaid output shaft at its lower speed and a brake for making effectivethe other of said power trains, and a one-way clutch connected betweensaid shafts whereby said output shaft may drive said input shaft.

' CARL J. CONKLE.

